Product Overview

This Panel Beating Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a comprehensive safety planning document designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement controls for vehicle body repair and restoration tasks. It provides end-to-end coverage of core panel-beating activities to support WHS compliance, safe workshop practices, and effective management of high-risk auto body repair work.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Body filling and shaping of damaged panels, including safe use, mixing, and sanding of fillers
• Bumper repairs, removal and refitting, and managing crush zones and hidden component hazards
• Bus body alignment and straightening, including jacking, bracing, and support systems
• Car roof restoration, cutting out rusted sections, and installing replacement roof skins
• Use of chassis aligners and pulling systems, including load rating, anchoring, and exclusion zones
• Modifying original car frames while managing structural integrity and compliance with design limits
• General panel-beating tasks such as dent removal, shrinking, stretching, and panel reshaping
• Refitting bus panels and trims, including overhead work and manual handling controls
• Repair of car bodies from assessment and strip-down through to reassembly and final checks
• Sanding vehicle parts using hand and power tools, including dust control and noise management
• Spot welding for auto body repairs, including fire prevention, fume extraction, and electrical safety
• Structural body panel replacement, cutting, drilling, and welding of critical load-bearing sections
• Use of hot stapling tools on plastic components, including burn prevention and safe handling of heated parts
• Selection and use of appropriate PPE for noise, dust, welding light, fumes, and sharp edges
• Safe storage and handling of flammable liquids, solvents, body fillers, and compressed gas cylinders

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for panel beaters, auto body repair technicians, bus and coach body builders, restoration workshops, and site supervisors responsible for overseeing vehicle body repair work.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks – guidance on identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing controls in panel-beating operations
• Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work – requirements for controlling noise from hammering, sanding, and powered tools
• Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace – controls for fillers, solvents, paints, and cleaning agents used in auto body repair
• Code of Practice: Welding Processes – health and safety guidance for spot welding and other welding-related activities
• Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces – controls for working at height on vehicle roofs and elevated platforms
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, Use and Maintenance of Respiratory Protective Equipment – guidance for respirator selection when sanding, grinding, or welding
• AS/NZS 2161: Occupational Protective Gloves – recommendations for hand protection against cuts, heat, and chemicals
• AS/NZS 1337: Eye Protectors for Industrial Applications – requirements for eye protection during grinding, sanding, and welding
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017